The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-15
PROTEST AGAINST COERCION
The Action Taken by Large and En-
tbusiastic Meeting at Washington.
The inquiry as to differentiation and What
May Possibly Come Of It-Germany and
the Bancroft Naturalization Treaty.
SYMPATHY FOR IRELAND.
A Large and Enthusiastic Meeting Sends
Words of Cheer TO ParnelI


expression on the part of American residents
and sojourners at the national capital to pro-
test against the passage of the coercion bill for
Ireland now pending in the British Parliament.
The audience was well-dressed and orderly,
but enthusiastic throng and filled the hall to its
utmost capacity. The chairman of the commit
tee called the meeting to order and introduced
Congressman Springer, of Illinois, to preside
After stating the purpose of the meeting, Mr.
Springer said it seemed to him that history was
repeating itself The contest now going on
in Great Britain in reference to the govern
ment of Ireland was, in many respects.
very similar to that which was carried
on in the American colonies, and it
would not be inappropriate for Ireland, at this
time. to proclaim that immortal Declaration OF
Independence which, ia years ago. pro-
claimed in Philadelphia. He did not desire to
be understood as suggesting to the Irish at this
time that they should pursue the course followed
by our foreathers. Ireand's leaders were now
seeking peaceful way out of their difficulties in
this great contest for liberty and home rule and
it must not be assumed that the English people
were party to the wrong. Let the people of
Ireland preserve their equanmity. submit as
long as submission was possible, and the time
would not long be delayed when the English
people themselves-the workin gmen-would
right the wrongs of Ireland.
General Rosecrans. Register of the Treasury
was then introduced, and said that Cor over three
hundred years the position of Ireland and her
people had been an exception to what had hap
pened to all other peoples of the world. More
than one hundred coercion bills had been passed
by the British Parliament since Ireland was de-
prived of her own Parliament, and the very fact
mat new one was pending was proof that these
measures'had been utterly futile. He believed
Inc object of law was to cause reason and JUS
tlce to take the place of force. If that were true
then the coercion bill is an outrage on reason
and justice
Ex-senator Van Wyck, OF Nebraska, was next
introduced. He quoted from the circular call
for the meeting the references to the threat
ened suspension of the writ of habeas
corpus In time of peace, the abridgement
and in some cases. abolition of the right of trial
py jury, the transportation of Irishmen,
charged with intended offenses," to England
.or trial by alien juries and the ''auartering of
large bodies OF troops among the people of ire
land, thus eating away our substance and drew
parallel between them and the passages in the
American Declaration of Independence relating
to tine quartering Of large bodies of armed
troops among u.s." the deprivation in many cases
OF OF the benefit of trial by jury, the transporta-
ton of Americans beyond the seas to be tried
for pretended offenses," etc. England, he said
had more reason for her pretended right to op-
press the colonies than she has for expressing
and planted her people and government upon it.
ireland had been taken by conquest and spolia-
ton, tor which the vengeance of men and the Just
Judgment of heaven had been too long delayed.
Our rescue had been aided by the sympathy and
assistance, in money and blood of those in other
lands who loved liberty How could we remain
unconcerned when the same unnatural monster,
always ready to devonr whatever was within
her power, WAS seeking to destroy Ireland7 We
owed Ireland debt contracted more than
hundred years ago. and we could now pay q Dor
ton of 1t in sympathy and dollars by saying to
England that it concerns America that the jude-
ment made up by the revolution, to which she
was a party, should be recognized in her deal
ings with those who were then our allies and
have always been our friends.
Congressman Grain, of Texas, read to the
meeting the resolutions prepared by the COM
mittee appointed for the purpose They are as
follows:
Whereas. The Tory administration of England is
about to enact for Ireland tyranncal coercive
jury, suspendngthe habeas corpus act imprisoning
IN the foulest dungeons thousands of innocent people
deprived OF the privilege of appeal or redress trans
porting suspected persons to alien country to go
through the farce of trial suppressing the press
and free speech and in a word of robbng the people
OF Ireland of all those rights which mankind holds
| dear and civilization demands; be it
Resolved, That we. the citizens of the capital of
the United States. in mass meeting assembled sin
cerely sympathize with Hon. VIM E. Gladstone and
| Hon Charles Stewart Parne in their gallant battle
against this barbarous coercion bill, and that
by the British Parliament of measure calculated to
brutaiize and enslave the people of Ireland.
| Resolved, That the enactment of such diabolical
laws would not alone be outrage the Irish PEG.
pie but crime against the spirit of liberty every
where, and that the trainers and advocates of the
coercion bill should 60 down posterity condemned
| by humanity and branded with nfamv
Mr.. Grain said that of the sixty millions of
| Americans one-ffth had Irish blood courslne
through their veins. Why, then, he asked
| should we not sympathize with Jreland2
| vordc of
| pathy which came from the Irish in the DAYS of
her own trials and sufferngs. She could not
| forget the valor and herosm of Montgomery
| nor of that conqueror of New Orleans-Andrew
Jackson. Nor, coming to later times could
they ever forget the gallantry of Meagher, a
! Corcoran. a Sheridan on the side. or of a
| Pat Cleburne on the other. England had made
it one of her poudest boasts that whenever a
slave put his foot English soil he became a
| free man. Ireland complained that it was now
intended to declare that whenever free man
| put his foot on Irish soil, he should become a
| slave.
The resolutions were adopted with cheers and
| music, and the announcement was made that
they would be cabled 20 Gladstone and Parnell
A large number of letters of regret were read
bv the secretary from which the following ex-
pressions culled:
| John Sherman writes: "Your kind note of
the 9th, inviting me to attend the proposed mass
meeting at the Masonic Temple for the purpose
| of entering protest against the passage of the
ment is received. | regret that shall not be able
toattend. While sincerely sympatnizing with the
object of your meeting, could not express my
views this important topic more accurately
than have done in recent letter to Mr. Nc
Wade. a copy of which inclose."
The letter referred to has already been pub
lished.
Senator Sabn says: cit would afford me
great pleasure to be present at this gathering
and join you in those expressions of sympathy
for the oppressed people of Ireland, which ough,
to appeal to the hearts of every lover of liberty
and well-wisher for the nrogress. comfort. hap
piness and just rights of their fellow men"
Roscoe Conkling writes: My sympathy anG
judgment with Ireland's people in the be
nighted methods now waged against them
should'be glad to say whenever it might dc
any good, and it would be pleasure to partici
pate in the meeting at Washington as you kind
ly propose. 1t is not in my power to do so, but
you may count me among those who hope anG
trust that England will never be led to resort
in the name of Great Britain, to measures which
would place blister on the face of civilization
wherever liberty is more than false pretense
NATURALIZATION OF GOODS